Interchangeable unit luminous gaseous sign



June 1941. KEN|GSBERG INTERCHANGEABLE UNIT LUMINOUS GASEOUS SIGN Filed June 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 14 L EXANQER Ho KEN 6356M a?! {WI Mm fi a June 17, 1941. KENlGSBERG 2,245,681

INTERCHANGEABLE UNIT LUMINOUS GASEOUS SIGN Filed June 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Hum/mm H fiz/v/asama A TTORNEYS.

Patented June 17, 1941 INTERCHANGEABLE UNIT LUMI NOUS GASEOUS SIGN Alexander H. Kenigsberg, Roxbury, Mass.

Application June 8, 1938, Serial No. 212,416

21 Claims.

My invention relates to an interchangeableunit luminous gaseous sign and may be characterized as an improvement upon the sign described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 91,021, filed July 17, 1936.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide a new type of luminous gaseous sign in which a portable supporting frame and individual character units are so arranged that the entire sign can be easily and quickly assembled and installed anywhere with safety at any time and by anyone without previous experience and without the use of tools, and a sign that can be changed expeditiously and at will by virtue of the interchangeability of the individual sign units.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a sign unit of sturdy construction wherein the fragile luminous gaseous tube is well shielded or protected and thus not subject readily to breakage or damage due to handling and exposure in installation, packing, shipping, or in use; also, an individual sign unit composed of few parts and adapted to be applied to and removed from the sign with facility, and a sign unit in which the luminous gaseous tube is held firmly to an individual frame for the tube.

Another object is to provide an interchangeable luminous gaseous sign in which the supporting frame and sign units may be manufactured economically on a quantity basis, and thus sold more cheaply, thereby improving and enlarging greatly the present field for luminous gaseous signs.

Another object is to provide the trade with a sign which, under factory production methods, may be manufactured as a standard product of higher quality, greater uniformity, and longer display life as compared with present signs Custom built in various sign shops.

Another object is to provide a luminous gas eous sign for which both the supporting frame and the individual units may be carried in stock bythe manufacturer or dealer, thus capable of being supplied immediately upon demand, whether for initial installation, extensions, or replacements.

Another object is to provide a luminous gaseous sign in which the component parts of the supporting frame as well as of the individual units are interchangeable, thus adding greatly to its economy when salvage, replacement, and repair values are taken into consideration.

The improved interchangeable unit luminous gaseous sign of my present invention may be displayed advantageously by merchandising, entertainment, and other establishments, anywhere on the premises, so as instantly to call attention to' special events and attractions; can be moved safely and readily from place to place at any time by anyone; can be safely and easily removed by anyone conveniently, and safely packed and stored away until needed again as in cases of seasonal advertising, or else readily and safely shipped to another location; its wording can be changed easily and safely by anyone at any time, and the'color combination of the various char acters can be controlled at will; and, by virtue of the interchangeability of the component parts of the-sign unit, a multiplicity of color effects can be readily obtained by various combinations of background panels and luminous characters set in such panels.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the. set-up of a typical sign employing the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of one of the individual interchangeable units;

Figure 3 is a sectional view through one of the individual interchangeable units and the supporting frame, taken substantiallyon the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2;

' Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 3, but on a somewhat enlarged scale and showing another form of electrode housing and mounting therefor;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a preferred arrangement for a short circuit connector and a form of duplex electrode housing therefor;

Figure 7 is a sectional view similar to Figure 5, showing another form of electrode housing structure; and I Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail view showing a single form of electrode housing for attachment to the top of the supporting frame.

With reference now to the drawings, the luminous gaseous sign of my present inventioncomprises generally a supporting frame I0 within which are disposed electrode housings ll arranged in pairs to receive the electrodes I 2 of individual sign units l3 and the terminals M of short circuit connectors or blanks l5. Each unit l3 preferably has a letter, numeral, figure, punctuation mark, or other suitable character, and

these units and the blanks II are interchangeable electrodes |2 of the various units I3 and the terminals H of the blanks I5 to connect the various units l3, and, where blanks l5 are employed, also connecting said blanks in series or continuous circuit relation with the source of current.

In Figure 1 is shown somewhat schematically a transformer l 6 upon which is placed the frame or carriage III which supports the individual sign units. The transformer I6 has input leads I! which can be plugged, by means of a suitable connector l8, into any suitable electric outlet, and it also has output leads l9. When supported on top of the transformer 6 as'shown, the supporting frame, I may be secured in position by means of lugs 20 fitting into clamps 2| attached to the casing of the transformer I6.

The supporting frame I0 comprises a casing 22, preferably of metal, and a base'23, also preferably of metal, the casing 22 and base 23 being secured together along the stiffening flanges 24 by means of bolts 25, or in any other suitable manner. Openings 26 and 21 may be provided in the top of the casing 22 and in the base 23, respectively, as shown in Figure 6, to serve as ventilation means for carrying off heat generated when the sign is in operation.

While the ilustrated embodiment of the invention shows the frame III as provided with six pairs of electrode housings it is to beunderstood that one pair or any desired number of pairs of electrode housings is contemplated within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, the letters H, O, R, N, with one blank l at each end as shown in Figure 1, is merely illustrative. If the word.- is a six letter word for example, no blanks l5 need be employed, or with a two letter word and a three letter word in combination, one blank may be arranged between the two words.

The electrode housings II, which may be formed of porcelain, Pyrex, or other insulating material, may be fastened to the frame In in any suitable manner. In Figures 1 and 3, these housings l l are bolted at 30 to the base 23 through holes in lugs 3| formed integral with the lower ends of the housings ..'I'he two end housings have side openings at 34 (Figure 1) for admittance of the feed conductors or output leads I9 by means of which the terminals of the end housings I are connected to the feed conductors IS. The other electrode housings have similar side openings 34 for admittance of jumper wires or leads 35 by means of which the terminal of one housing of each pair of housingsis connected to the terminal of the adjacent housing of the next pair of housings. Each housing H has an opening 36 in the bottom thereof for admittance of and access to the binding screws or posts for securing the feed conductors and jumper wires to the terminals of the respective housings as more fully shown and described in connection with Figures 5 and 7. Openings at 38 permit the escape of heat generated by the operation 'trode housings. The ends of the casing 22 are closed by covers 45 which may be secured to the casing 22 or base 23,,or to both, by any suitable means. Conductors I! pass through insulating bushings 48 in the base 23, although it is to be understood that these conductors may pass through the top of the casing 22 should the entire sign be suspended from above, or they may enter the casing in any other suitable manner. The terminals of.the transformer which are connected by the leads l9 to the terminals of 'the electrode housings. at the opposite ends of by anyone without risk of accidental contact, and

the sign is thus capable of being placed safely anywhere where it can be displayed most advantageously. All unsightly structural features are concealed within the frame, and this frame may be finished attractively as desired. The

supporting frame maybe built in any other suit-' able manner-for example, with the base and sides in one piece and a suitable section for the top.

Each interchangeable sign unit |3 comprises a frame or panel 50 pressed out of metal, or otherwise formed of metal or any other suitable material, box-like in shape, with the front open, and preferably with rounded edges and corners as shown. The bottom of each frame or panel 50 has two substantially circular openings 5| spaced to correspond or register with the electrodes |2 of the respective sign units l3 and with the electrode housings II in the supporting frame. Each of the units l3, as shown in the drawings, has a luminous gaseous tube 42 bent into shape to form a letter, numeral, figure, punctuation mark, or other suitable character, and terminates in the two parallel electrodes l2 which extend through the openings 5|. The projecting ends of the tube electrodes |2 are preferably clad by metal caps 52 for contacting the terminals 4| in the electrode housings II when the units are inserted into the supporting frame.

The tube is set into the box-like frame or panel 5|! and thereby shielded and protected at the back as well as at the top bottom and sides thereby. At. the same time the inside of the back wall of the panel or frame 50 forms a background for the tube. This background may be colored gas, such as neon, helium, argon, 'or the like,

and metallic vapors or other suitable means to give any desired color or characteristics, or any desired combination of colors or characteristics.

'The tube electrodes |2 of each unit are heldin firm fixed position to the bottom of the unit so that the tube and panel or frame of each unit constitutes a firm, unitary, and interchangeable structure. This is accomplished by providing each electrode with a split bushing 56 comprising a pair of semi-cylindrical bushing members of insulating material. Each half of each bushing 56 consists of a flanged portion 51 which bears against the rim 58 around the openings 5| and a stem portion 59 grooved internally to fit tightly about the tube electrodes I2 and threaded externally for threaded engagement with the correspondingly threaded shank 69 of a clamping sleeve 6| preferably of metal, although it may be formed of other suitable material. When threadv ed upon the bushing members to the position shown in Figures 2 and 3, the sleeve 6| clamps the bushing members into firm gripping engagement with the electrode [2. At the same time, the rim 58 of the frame or panel 50 is clamped between the flanged portions 5'! of the split bushing and the flange 64 at the upper end of the sleeve 6|, thus securing the luminous tube firmly to the shielding panel with the electrodes proiecting from the bottom of the panel.

If desired, to insure further rigidity, a ring washer (not shown) may be inserted between the flange 64 of the sleeve 6| and the rim 58 of the panel 50.

The shapes of the stem portions 59 of the split bushings and of the threaded portions of the sleeve 6| may be made slightly conical, with the smaller ends at the bottom as indicated more clearly in Figure 7 in order to assure positive gripping between the bushings and the electrodes. In addition, the lower ends of the sleeves 6| may be made to contact the inside of upstanding flanges 68 formed about the openings 69 in the top of the casing 22 to afford another point of support for each sign unit on the casing 22. This improves the alignment and stability of the respective units when in position on the supporting frame and with the electrodes l2 extending through the openings 69 and into engagement with the terminals of the electrode housings II.

If desired, a wire guard 72 may be provided for protecting the luminous tube 42 from damage from frontal exposure. As shown more clearly in connection with the third from the left unit of Figure l and in Figure 4, this guard 12 may be made up of two sets of wires 13 substantially perpendicular to one another, welded together, or otherwise connected at their intersections at 14, and held clamp-like in a spring 15 fitting in a groove 16 formed in the panel 50 along its sides and at its top. The spring 15 may be of U-shaped formation, having its open end pointing downwardly toward the electrodes, and this spring can be readily inserted into and removed from the retaining groove '16 by drawing the depending legs of the U together.

As shown in Figure 4, a cover 80 may be provided for protecting the glass tube 42 from damage in storing and shipment. This cover 80 has flanges 82 along two sides and along the top preferably without any flange along the bottom, and these side and top flanges have grooves 83 which slide over ribs 840m the sides of the frame or panel [3 and into engagement with a corresponding rib in the top of the frame or panel. Any other suitable means for securing the guard and the cover removably to the frame or panel 50 may be employed.

There are also indicated in Figure 2' annular groove-like recesses 89in the caps 52 on electrodes 12. These grooves 86 are adapted to engage spring clips 81 shown more clearly in Figure 5, with the object of securing the unit more firmly in the housing and also to obtain electric contact at that point should that arrangement be preferable.

The electrode housing ll shown in Figure 5 is secured to the base 23' by a screw flange 90 instead of being bolted to the base as in Figures 1- and 3. The housing I! is of insulating material as previously described, and at its lower end has an integral flange 9| which engages one side of the rim of the opening 92 in the base 23. The screw flange or sleeve 90, threaded upon the housing H into clamping engagement with the other side of the rim of the opening in the base 23' secures the electrode housing firmly and, at the same time, detachably to the supporting frame. Ventilating openings are shown at 94 as in Figure 3, and the housing II has side openings 95 for admittance of the jumper or feed conductors, and an opening 96 in its bottom for access to the binding post 91.

Binding post or screw 91 secures the conductor 98 which may be a feed conductor or jumper conductor to metal .lug 99 provided at its upper minals as well, or simply mechanical means for engaging more firmly the electrodes through the metal caps 52 to hold the unit securely in position in the housing.

In Figure '7 the electrode housing l l is secured to the base 23" by bolts or the like engaging through openings l05 as in Figure 3,

and the tube 42' with its frame or panel 50' corresponds with the previous embodiments of the invention. In this case, however, the upper I end of the insulating housing II has a bell mouth I06 which substantially eliminates accidental impact of and possible consequent damage to the glass electrodes. This safety arrangement is accomplished by widening the upper part of the receiving end of the electrode housing as shown at I06 to provide a socket I01 for admission freely of the split bushing 56, with or without the shank of the screw flange 6|. By making the distance a from the end of the bushing to the end of the electrode sufficiently less than the'distanceb from the base of the bell mouth to the top of the flange 68', the possibility of injurious contact between the contacting terminal 52' or spring contact 81' is .obviated. In other respects the details of the bell mouth housing are similar to those already described.

The electrode housing shown in Figure 6 is of the duplex suspended type in which a single receptacle engages both electrodes of the luminous tube or both terminals I4 of the short circuit connector or blank l5. The single receptacle which is formed of insulation and is indicated at III] has lugs H2 by means of which it is bolted to the topof the casing 22; A single recess H4 at each end provides easy access to the binding posts I] 5 for securing the conductors H6, which may be lead or jumper conductors, to the binding posts H1. The duplex housing may, of course, be arranged to be secured to the base 23 if desired.

The blank connector I5 comprises a suitable conductor I20 with terminals [2! to engage terminals I22 and/or spring clips I23. The part I5 .01 the blank connector is shown of such shape as to form a harmonious continuation of the projecting flanges I25 formed about the opening I26 in the top of the casing 22. Similarly, web I28 is indicated spreading out gradually to conform with the generally cylindrical shape of the housings proper, as well as to reduce the total weight of the housing.

In Figure 8 I have shown a single suspended electrode housing indicated more or less diagrammatically at I30 and bolted or otherwise secured to flanges I32 to the top of the supporting frame or casing of the sign.

It will now be apparent from the foregoing description that I have provided a totally enclosed group of paired spaced electrode housings or sockets, only two per sign unit, and serially interconnecting the sign units and blank connectors selectively as desired to present a simple,

positive, compact, and safe assembly. More-,

over, each sign unit comprises its luminous gaseous tube and a frame or panel, and the electrodes of the tube are firmly and tightly gripped to the frame or panel of the unit to provide a firm unitary assembly. With this arrangement, all vibratory or other stresses incident to handlin'g, shipping, storing, and installing are transferred to the electrode collars, gripping the tubes rigidly at their least vulnerable points,'and these stresses are thence transferred to the infinitely more resistant casing, for example by contact of the electrode collars therewith or by other cooperation therebetween.

Other types of electrode housings than those shown in the drawings may be employed within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, it is to be understood that two or more supporting frames, together with their units, may be set alongside one another or above one another to form any wording or combination of characters as desired.

I do not intend to be limited to the precise details shown or described.

conductors connecting adjacent sockets of ad-.

jacent pairs of sockets in series circuit relation, said frame having openings in register with said sockets, and interchangeable sign units each having the electrode terminals of the'gaseous tube spaced in accordance with the spacing of said sockets and adapted for insertion'through said openings and selectively into direct engagement with said sockets.

2. In a luminous gaseous tube sign, a suppporting frame comprising a casing, a plurality of sockets arranged in pairs within said casing, conductors connecting adjacent sockets of adjacent pairs of sockets together, said frame having openings in register with said sockets, and interchangeable sign units each comprising a frame and a luminous gaseous. tube firmly secured thereto by clamping means and constituting with said last frame a structure for application to and removal from the supporting frame as a unit, said tube having electrodes extending from the sign unit frame and spaced in accordance with the spacing of said sockets and adapted for insertion through said openings and selectively into direct engagement withsaid sockets.

3. In a luminous gaseous tube sign, a supporting frame comprising a casing, a plurality of sockets arranged in pairs within said casing, conductors connecting adjacent sockets of adjacent pairs of sockets together, said frame having openings in register with said sockets, interchangeable sign units each comprising a panel and a luminous gaseous tube having electrodes extending from the panel and spaced in accordance with the spacing of said sockets and adapted for insertion through said openings and selectively into direct engagement with said sockets, and means firmly securing the tube to the panel for application to and removal from said supporting frame as a unit.

4. In a luminous gaseous tube sign, a supporting frame comprising a casing, a plurality of sockets arranged in pairs within said casing, conductors connecting adjacent sockets of adjacent pairs of sockets together, said frame having openings in register with said sockets, interchangeable sign units each comprising a panel and a luminous gaseous tube having electrodes extending from the panel and spaced in accordance with the spacing of said sockets and adapted for insertion through said openings and selectively into direct engagement with said sockets,

and means firmly securing the tube to the panel for application to and removal from said supporting frame as a unit, said last means cooperating with said supporting frame when the sign unit is applied thereto to provide alignment and stability for the unit when in place on said frame.

5. In a luminous gaseous tube sign, a supporting frame comprising a casing, a plurality of sockets arranged in pairs within said casing, conductors connecting adjacent sockets of 'adja-. cent pairs of sockets together, said frame having openings in register with said sockets, interchangeable sign units each comprising a panel and a luminous gaseous tube having electrodes extending from the panel and spaced in accordance with the spacing of said sockets and adapted for insertion through said openings and selec- -tively into engagement with said sockets, and

means firmly securing the tube to'the panel for application to and removal from said supporting frame as a unit, said last means comprising split bushings and means for clamping said bushings firmly about the tube electrodes and to the panel.

6. In a luminous gaseous tube sign, a supporting frame having terminals enclosed therein, interchangeable sign units adapted for application to said frame selectively in diiferent positions thereon and having terminals for contact with said first terminals, said signunits each comprising a frame and a luminous gaseous tube, and clamping means firmly attaching said tube to said last frame and cooperable with said supporting frame to provide alignment and stability for the units when in place on said supporting frame.

7. In a luminous gaseous tube sign, a supporting frame comprising a casing, a plurality of sockets arranged in pairs within said casing, conductors connecting adjacent sockets of adjacent pairs of sockets, said frame having openings in the top thereof in register with said sockets, and interchangeable sign units adapted for application to'said frame selectively in diiferent positions along the top thereof and having the electrode terminals of the luminous tube in a plane parallel with the plane of the character and spaced in accordance with the spacing of said sockets and adapted for insertion through said openings and into direct engagement with said sockets.

8. Ina luminous gaseous tube sign, a supporttermediate contacting means, and a transformer disposed externally of said supporting frame and having its high voltage terminals connected to the end sockets.

9. In a luminous gaseous tube sign, a supporting frame comprising an enclosure consisting of a casing part and a base part rigidly secured together, a plurality of sockets arranged in pairs within said enclosure and rigidly secured to one of said enclosure parts, one of said enclosure parts having openings in register with said sockets, conductors connecting adjacent sockets of adjacent pairs of sockets in series circuit relation, and interchangeable sign units having the electrode terminals of the gaseous tube in a plane parallel with the plane of the character and spaced in accordance with the spacing of said sockets and adapted for insertion through said openings and selectively into direct engagement with said sockets.

10. An interchangeable unit for luminous gaseous tube signs, said unit comprising a shielding panel, a luminous gaseous tube terminating in a pair of electrodes, and means cooperating with the tube electrodes and independent of the circuit connection for the tube for firmly clamping said tube and panel together into a rigid unitary structure 11. An interchangeable unit for luminous gaseous tube signs, said unit comprising a boxlike shielding panel having a pair of openings, a luminous gaseous tube set into said panel and terminating in a pair of electrodes extending.

through said. openings, split insulating bushings grooved internally to embrace the tube electrodes and having flanges cooperating with one side of the wall of said panel, and stem portions extending through said openings and threaded externally, and means adapted to be threaded upon the externally threaded portions of said bushings and into engagement with the opposite side of the wall of the panel to clamp the tube firmly to said panel.

12. An interchangeable unit for luminous gaseous tube signs {said unit comprising a boxlike shielding panel, a luminous gaseous tube secured therein, said panel being grooved, and a wire guard comprising a generally U-shaped spring clamping two sets of wires arranged generally perpendicularly to one another and fastened together at their intersections, said spring being capable of being sprung into the groove in said panel.

13. An interchangeable unit for luminous gaseous tube signs, said unit comprising a boxlike shielding panel having projecting ribs, a luminous gaseous tube secured in said panel, and a cover having flanges grooved for sliding engagement with the projecting ribs on the panel.

with the electrode terminals of the tube in a plane parallel with the plane of the character and spaced in accordance with the spacing of said sockets and adapted for direct engagement therewith and a blank connector comprising an insulated conductor having terminals spaced in accordance with the spacing of the terminals of said sign units and said sockets and adapted for. engagement with said sockets to complete a circuit therefor.

15. In a luminous gaseous tube sign, a supporting frame, interchangeable sign units having luminous gaseous tubes provided with elec-, trodes and adapted for application to said frame, a duplex insulating housing of unitary character rigidly secured to said frame and having a pair of openings extending therethrough, electrode terminals mounted in said openings intermediate the ends thereof and adapted for receiving the electrodes of said interchangeable units upon insertion of said electrodes into said openings from one end of the insulating housing, and means within said openings and coaxial with said tube electrodes for connecting lead conductors to said electrode terminals.

16. An interchangeable unit for luminous gaseous tube signs, said unit comprising a shielding frame, a luminous gaseous tube terminating in a pair of electrodes, means cooperating with the tube electrodes for firmly clamping said tube and panel together, a wire guard comprising a generally U-shaped spring with guard wires arranged across the legs thereof, the legs of said spring being adapted to be sprung together for engagement with and disengagement from said panel, said panel having projecting ribs, and a cover having flanges for sliding engagement with the projecting ribs on the panel.

1'7. An interchangeable unit for luminous gaseous tube signs, said unit comprising a shielding panel, a luminous gaseous tube terminating in a pair of -electrodes, means cooperating with the tube electrodes for firmly clamping said tube and panel together, a wire guard in front of the gaseous tube and detachably engageable with said panel, said panel having a projecting rib, and a cover having a flange for sliding engagement with the projecting rib on the panel.

18. In a luminous gaseous tube sign, in combination, a supporting frame comprising a casing, an electrode housing attached to, said casing, said housing having spaced sockets provided with contact terminals, and interchangeable gaseous tube sign units having gaseous tubes formed into characters and provided with electrodes spaced apart the same as the sockets in said electrode housing and disposed in a plane parallel with the planes of the characters formed by said tubes for insertion in the sockets in said electrode housing and into contact with the contact terminals therein.

19. In a. luminous gaseous tube sign,'a supporting frame comprising a casing, a plurality of sockets arranged in pairs within said casing, conductors connecting adjacent sockets of adjacent pairs of sockets together, said frame having openings in register with said sockets, and interchangeable sign units each comprising a frame and a luminous gaseous tube firmly secured thereto by removable and replaceable clamping means and constituting with said last frame a structure for application to and removal from the supporting frame as a unit, said tube having electrodes extendingfrom the sign unit frame and spaced in accordance with the spacing of said sockets and adapted for insertion through said openings and selectively into direct engagement with said sockets.

20. In a luminous gaseous tube sign, a supporting frame comprising a casing, a plurality of sockets arranged in pairs within said casing, conductors connecting adjacent sockets of adjacent pairs of sockets in series circuit relation,

said frame having openings in register with said sockets and interchangeable sign units having gaseous tubes formed into characters and provided with electrode terminals spaced in accordance with the spacing of said sockets and disposed parallel with the planes of the characters formed by said tubes for insertion through said openings and selectively into direct engagement ALEXANDER H. KENIGSBERG. 

